Hypnotherapy for insomnia and sleep-related issues

Do you struggle to go to sleep or to get back to sleep if you wake up? Do you need ear plugs, an eye mask, and complete darkness to have a chance of going to sleep? Are you feeling low on energy, unable to focus, stressed and irritable? Have you tried sleeping medications, but want to stop taking them?

Sleep is so important, and like most things, we don't pay any attention to it, until this thing that seemed automatic and natural no longer happens. Good quality sleep on a regular basis is necessary for optimum health and well being. And although there is no "right" amount of sleep, everyone has their own individual sleep requirements. If these aren't met, a range of negative physical, mental and emotional effects are likely.

What are sleep issues?

Sleep issues can be chronic or intermittent, and range from being unable to go to sleep at all, to not being able to go back to sleep if woken. The causes of sleep disruption vary considerably: you may have always had trouble sleeping, and things have got worse over time. Perhaps worry or stress about a current life event is disturbing your sleep. Maybe you have young children, noisy neighbours, a partner who snores, or pain or discomfort (due to illness or undergoing IVF treatment).

And the more your try to go to sleep, the more difficult it becomes. This creates the classic vicious cycle, where you feel stressed and anxious because you're tired, so you don't function as well as you'd like, which leads to more stress and anxiety, and worse sleep. You may also be more likely to use negative coping strategies to get through the day (eg smoking, drinking, medication), which further compromise your sleep, physical health and well being.

How hypnotherapy can help with insomnia and sleep-related issues

Whether you have only recently had trouble sleeping, or it's a longstanding condition, hypnotherapy is uniquely suited to get you back to good quality sleep. It works by helping your nervous system to get out of the existing state of over-stimulation, and relax. In the deeply relaxed hypnotic state, suggestions are given to reduce stress and anxiety, keeping negative stimulation to a minimum.

Hypnotherapy can keep your stimulation levels low, especially when you are having trouble going to sleep, or to sleep again after being woken up. The relaxed hypnotic state is also very good for learning to deal with stress better, improving confidence, reducing anxiety and making lifestyle changes to improve your sleep (eg weight loss, reducing stimulants like caffeine/alcohol, TV, social media before sleep). As a general rule, within 3 - 5 sessions, you'll start to feel more in control, sleeping better and feeling more calm and relaxed during the day.

Hypnotherapy is also very effective for the following sleep-related issues:

snoring, including sleep apnoea

teeth grinding (bruxism)

jaw clenching

myoclonic jerks (involuntary movements of the hands, arms or legs, accompanied by a sensation of falling)

impact on sleep of living with a painful/chronic medical condition

sleep talking or sleep walking

For more information about hypnotherapy to resolve insomnia and other sleep-related issues, or to book an appointment, contact Sian on 07725 732810 or email.

...since our last session over 5 weeks ago, I have carried on with the success from the first session, with only 2 nights of disturbed sleep in this period. This is an unbelievable change from sleep walking and talking every night for almost 20 years! You've made a massive difference to my daily life: I'm not tired all the time, and I feel much more relaxed and confident, especially at work and when driving. It's a huge improvement for me and my longsuffering girlfriend - we can't thank you enough."[read more]

...since seeing you last, out of 34 nights, I have only needed to take sleeping tablets 6 times: two of these nights were when my husband was away and I was not happy being alone; and the other four nights, my son has woken me up and I have not been able to get back to sleep. This is such a huge improvement, I am feeling so much more positive about my sleep. If I do have a tough night I feel like I can manage it, and I don't go into crisis mode!...[read more]